Category: Blues

Rather like both The Waterboys and Dexy’s Midnight Runners, both of whom Fergus McKay and Nothing Concrete most closely resemble (as the crow flies, ba-dum-tish!), the minute you start to describe them and folk; soul; blues, the quicker you begin to question your haste in defining them. Fergus and his group of disparate followers are folk and blues in the sense they play ‘real’ instruments and sing whilst telling stories but also cabaret in presentation and country in parts…not to mention the dreaded “world” phrase. I could go on.

Though the novelty of tap-dancing female horn players will only paper over cracks in the songwriting for so long but Nothing Concrete do have a unique code for life which sets them aside from many other bands. Having rejected the capitalist roar of the metropolis, they (men, women and children) have relocated from their respective countries across Europe to gather in the foothills of the Pyrenees, surviving (how!?) without television and internet and enjoying a particularly continental Good Life of self-sufficiency. The songs are themselves orphans of sorts, gathered from folk tales and conversations as they travel to their rip-roaring live shows. Old Black Crow is your a-typical blues-folk romp with equal measure of humour and disaster, all viewed from the feathered bystander’s view.

Without question one of the most bizarre things you’ll hear this year, “Hey Ooo I A O” is the brainchild, if that’s the right word, of Patrice Pouzet aka Pat and the Pro’s (his apostrophe, not ours!), resident of one of the most stunning places in the world, Reunion Island. Whilst the white beaches of the Indian Ocean isle might more readily be associated with the indigenous Séga or Maloya styles of music, no-one appears to have told Pat, whose louche bass vocals are the basis for that now rare beast, the novelty song.

A little bit like the sound of The Doors going on holiday to Ibiza, it’s utterly preposterous stuff but not without its entertaining qualities, the main chorus needed corrective surgery to have it removed from your head. Bizarre.

Punk Rock powerhouse Wartoad have been hard at work with the recent release of a brand new full length album, however, as well as that, they have put out their cover of the Cliff Richard’s 2002 favourite ‘Move It’, and its dark, deranged and we are loving it!

Providing us with a new take on this upbeat pop rock gem really shows that Wartoad have managed to diversify themselves enough to create buzz around what they have to offer. With this acoustic, heavy and pounding cover, the guys over in Wartaod are sure to be paving the way for a new generation of punk rockers!

With social divide, negative political impact and war raging on, people look to leaders, artists and professionals to guide them into the light, and this time Anarchy Reigns are taking a shot at being the voice of the people.

The new track ‘Hypocrisy’ is a gritty, politically charged, fury fueled anthem. The boys from Anarchy Reigns have constructed an opus which is fantastically delivered, and received with open arms.

The heavy gain and volume turned up to 11, the phat and fuzzy classic metal sounds and the melodic sorcery that hitch so brilliantly conveys, all come together to make this track, and we are so glad that they did.

Be sure to check out the track as well as all the other great content coming from the Anarchy Reigns camp:

There’s a new breed of activist in town, and hes coming to us with a classic tune for all of those subject to discrimination or hate, just because they were born differently.

The track “So Gay” can be seen in a few different ways, for example, one could see it as a invitation to accept yourself and others for who they are, and others may just see this song as a big middle finger to those who have already acted harshly against anyone a part of the LGBTQ community.

The track itself draws from lots of different styles, drawing from inspirations from around the globe. With a Blues styled husk, Hunter sings the lyrics with strength and passion, while the instrumentation has military nuances, the inclusion of guitars, and a heavy Bass section culminating in this momentous opus.

List your Favorite Venues or gigs. Now think back to the one problem with the venue, expensive drinks, bad service or possibly the biggest problem, the space! Well this is a element of gig-going that singer-songwriter Bryony Dunn is taking to new levels.

Bryony plans to take her acoustic guitar around the UK in search for public telephone boxes to perform in, and shes calling on all of her fans to help her find the perfect telephone boxes.

Her acoustic Folk-indie act will be home to these ‘Venues’ around the country, and with an army of curious and intrigued music lovers behind her, she is surely not one to be missed.

Activist and Artist ‘Hunter’ dabbles in pretty much everything creative, whether it be fashion, music or art, Hunter has no barriers when it comes to creation.

New song ‘So Gay’ is a protest to all those who discriminate, or negatively look at people who are different in any aspect. As well as that, the lyrics show the basic and forefront mentality that ‘i am who i am, take it or leave it’, which i feel has a great effect on audiences around the world.

The track itself has influence from blues, to Pop and dance, giving a well rounded and stylistically intriguing take on music that focus on this subject matter.

Its bold and unapologetic about its roots, making hunter a great performer, writer and creator.